Pictures of the week

My Love!!



Crash

It has been awhile since I have written on here. I had a bit of a problem with my laptop when it crashed. I would have never thought I would be so upset by such a thing but I lost 6 months of pictures, including those I took for clients as well as our Christmas pictures. It took over a month to get my computer back and then we just got busy. So, I am now in blog catch up mode...so I apologize for many blog entries and pictures to come. Now, where is that external hard drive?

~35~

On December 1st I turned 35 and I thought it was going to be tough but when I think about 36...that one makes me feel old. It will be official that I am closer to 40 than 30. Blah! So I am going to enjoy 35!

My girls both gave me a gift. Claire gave me a go-fish game, which we play often. Quinn gave me a baby doll that she "takes care of" for me, all the time. :) Blessed!

 



None the Wiser

Yesterday I had two of my wisdom teeth taken out. You can probably tell by how many blog post entries I have made today that I am holed up in the house on this beautiful day.

It actually went very well and I have been feeling good. I am very glad I decided to take the sedation pill. At the beginning of the week I was going to man up. Haha! As it got closer Jared suggested I take it and I whole heartedly agreed. I am pretty sure I slept through most of the procedure and had to have Jared tell me how the rest of the day went because I don't remember any of it. In fact, while I thought I was sleeping and Jared was getting my medication I guess I called him 5 times and called my mom and called a random number!! I don't remember any of this!!! I didn't believe Jared at first when he said I would call asking if he was home yet and telling him I was in pain and needed more medicine. I had to check my call log and my phone and sure enough it was true. I thought I was sleeping during that time! It is no wonder people do crazy things when they are drugged up. I hate that feeling...no control. I am just glad that Jared wasn't gone long and was home to take care of me.

Other than yesterdays wackiness I am fine today. I have kept up on ibuprofen so I haven't felt much pain, I opted not to get the Lortab because it makes me nauseous. I do feel like I am starving though...I am too scared to open my mouth very wide so I have only had oatmeal and ramen noodles since last night. What I would give for a hamburger!

 

Flowers that the girls and Jared got for me yesterday. It doesn't matter that I don't remember them giving to me. :) Love my family!

 

Love of my Life

On June 4th, 2004 my best friend took me on a road trip for the evening to run an errand for his dad. This was not an unusual thing for him to do for his dad so I willingly rode along. As we were talking he brings to my attention the name of the town we were about to head into in. The city limit sign said Welcome to Amber and then below it was a handmade sign that said Will You Marry Me. As he was pulling over to the side of the rode I was trying to wrap my head around what was happening. Jared gets out of the truck and opens my door to let me out. Once I am out of the truck he gets down on one knee and right there in the ditch in Amber, Oklahoma he proposes.

On October 16th, 2004 I said I do to my very best friend and the love of my life. It has been 8 years (tomorrow) and I love him more now then I did on that day. I would have never thought that could happen because as I walked down that isle I thought my heart would explode with joy and love for him.

He is the man God has intended for me and I have no doubts about that. It has been quite the journey  and I look forward to continuing it with him for as long as we live.

(these are pictures of pictures)

By the way, that is my daddy behind us. He officiated the wedding! So special!

 

Amber Lieser Photography- W. Family

I have loved taking pictures for a long time. I really love taking pictures of my sweet and precious girls. I may be a little biased but they are probably the the most beautiful things to photograph!

 

I have always wanted to explore doing photography as more than a hobby. So once we had saved for a nicer camera I started to learn. I have a super duper friend that is showing me the ropes and I am so grateful for her and all she has taught me. The next step was then to branch out and take pictures of more than just my family.

 

A week ago I had my first session with the sweetest family. They are friends of mine and were willing to trust me on something I had never done. I feel like they turned out well. I have another family session this weekend and then one more the following weekend.

 

I have to admit I am absolutely, positively scared (more like terrified) out of my mind to pursue this. So many questions run through my head. What if I fail, what if I don't have cute ideas, what if I am not creative enough, what if I stink at this, why would anyone want me when there are tons of professionals out there.

 

I have prayed about this so much and doors have been opened that at the moment I am walking through. I am trying to give it all to God. If he wants Amber Lieser Photography to take off then it will. If this is a lesson he wants to teach me and it doesn't work out then that's ok too. I am thanking him for this opportunity and I am giving Him the props for even getting me to this point.

 

So, even though I am scared and even though I question myself daily I am going to give it a try with God's help and direction on where it is to go.

 

Thanks to all who have encouraged and prayed about this and please continue!

 

W. Family



Skype

We finally got with it and learned how to skype. The girls wanted to tell grandma and papa about the princesses so we set it up and tried it out before we left for the fair. Then right before bed the girls got on there again and told them how it went. I think they liked watching themselves on screen more than actually talking.

 



Art Time

The girls love to paint and they love to be outside so we combined the two.



Claire's Art



Quinn's Art



The Lieser Girls

I needed a picture of the girls and myself for our MOPS directory and I realized that I don't have many pictures with me in front of the camera. I had my mom take this one and thought I would share.

 



Just like Quinn

Isn't it funny how you can spend so much time growing your hair out just to cut it all off in two hair appointments. I had been growing my hair out since Quinn was born, so 2 1/2 years. It was almost as long as it was in high school. (man, when I think about it that was a long time ago) I was getting bored and so I decided to cut it off. I was nervous to do a major cutting all at one time so I just had it cut it to my shoulders only to cut it off to chin level 6 weeks later. I really do like it until I look at a picture of me with long hair and I think, hmmm....maybe I should grow it back out. Yes, this drives Jared and my hair lady crazy!

The girls had to go with me to get my hair cut because of scheduling troubles and I was super nervous to take them. Luckily I was scheduled to go in at noon so I went by Wal-Mart and got the girls popcorn chicken. It is their favorite and I knew I had to keep them busy some how. It worked pretty well until I look over and Claire and Quinn are going through another hair dresser's station drawers. Perm rods can be quite interesting especially when you have no idea what they are. Other than that they were very good and well behaved. When I was all done and the chair was turned around the girls were in shock I think. They both exclaimed how now I look just like Quinn!!! As I look back into the mirror I realize that I have the same haircut as my 2 year old. I am not quite sure what that says about me...
I really do like my new "do" and I am glad the girls like it. I am also thankful that the girls didn't tear up the salon. All though, I should have tipped a little better because I am sure she had to clean chicken grease off of her windows for a while.

Quinn and I rockin our hair do's!!!

 



Olympic hopeful

I have to admit that I just love the Olympics and I am so glad that Jared is right there with me. We have not had the channel off of NBC since the Olympics started. It is so inspiring and emotional and stressful and I love it all! 

I am a fan of the summer Olympics over the winter. We love to watch swimming, track and field, volleyball, cycling...

My favorite is gymnastics. I was so excited the Fierce 5 won a gold! I always wanted to be a gymnast and watching them I remembered I had an old, very old, picture of me back when I was an Olympic gymnast hopeful...ok, maybe not.

*Picture of the week*

Mother's Day

Claire 3 1/2 years old

Quinn 2 years old

Mother's Day 2012

On this beautiful Saturday morning my "special" Mother's Day day began with me getting to sleep in until 9 a.m. Oh yeah, I said 9 a.m.!! Jared got up with the girls this morning and let me sleep. Then we had breakfast at McD's. The girls then went with Jared to pick out my gift from them. While they were gone I was able to clean up the house....alone without everything I just put away getting brought back out. I also was able to take a long shower...without a child opening the shower curtain or yelling through the door. Those two things alone made this day glorious! The girls came running in the house with gifts in tow. They picked out candy, Carrie Underwood cd, flowers, and a matchbox car. A toy car or train is Claire's favorite gift to give and Quinn loves to give candy.  My card was a Tinker Bell card and it sang a song. You know you are special when you get a singing card. I loved it all because I know the girls picked it out. What sweetie pies! We then went to the park and Jared took pictures of the girls and I. I never realized till recently how few pictures I am actually in. I guess because I am always behind the camera. We then had a picnic lunch and the girls played at the park. This was my favorite part of the day watching the girls play. They are getting so big and are so fearless and are just adorable. I could watch them laugh and play like that all day. We went out for dinner and then headed home. After the girls were in bed I went for a jog and then spent the rest of the evening being lazy watching t.v. on the couch. It really was a special day. I am such a lucky mommy and wife to have such a beautiful loving family. As I checked on the girls tonight I kissed their sleeping faces and I teared up as I prayed for them and I thanked God for blessing me with those two precious treasures. I am grateful for these girls and I am so proud to be their mama.

Shooting in Manual

I have a friend that is a great photographer that is helping me learn about taking pictures in manual mode on my camera. It is so much fun and yet so frustrating. When I get a good picture I am super happy but then when it isn't quite right it frustrates me. I am having fun learning and I am thankful for all of her help and wisdom. Here are the first pictures I took in manual. I have a long way to go.

New gift for me.

I have been hoping and wishing for a new camera and I have finally bought one. I have been super excited to use it. It is a digital SLR and I am so nervous that I may never learn how to use it properly. Right now I am just shooting on AUTO and I am loving the pictures. I can't wait until I learn how to shoot in manual however scary and exciting it may be. You may have already come to the conclusion that this blog has turned into a photo blog...just wait!

Here are the first shots on the new camera.